What happened: The mother-daughter duo of hippos at Beligum’s Antwerp zoo has been tested positive for Covid-19. The vets at the zoo credit their condition as out of danger, but the two hippos have runny noses. This is the first-ever instance where hippos have been tested positive for the virus. Details: The vets at the Antwerp zoo have also revealed the ages of both the hippos. Mother hippo is aged 41, while the daughter is 14. It is pertinent to know that this is the first-ever case of Covid-19 in hippos worldwide that has been reported. However, the Belgium vets are still unclear about how the mother-daughter duo contracted the virus. According to the zoo’s vet. Francis Vercammen, “The hippos’ enclosure has been closed to visitors and will only be reopened once the pair test negative.”
What else: Researches show that many mammals, including apes, pet dogs and cats, can contract the disease through humans. At the same time, there have been Covid-19 cases reported in apes, dogs, cats, and rats, as the virus continues its toll on human beings.